At Columbia International College, success is defined as students having achieved a good balance of academic, social and leadership skills. Therefore, our Leadership Training Program engages students in interactive and educational activities for their personal development and for them to acquire key communication and leadership skills. The leadership training program is offered via 3 main channels:

1. At Columbia's own Bark Lake Leadership Centre
2. Through executive student leadership positions
3. In class through leadership courses

BARK LAKE – Outdoor Leadership Training Centre

Equipping Students with Invaluable Life Skills and Values

Columbia International College is one of the few private schools in Canada with its own leadership and outdoor education centre. Bark Lake Leadership Centre provides field training in leadership, team building, physical education, and personal development through recreational and educational activities. As students participate in our leadership training program at Bark Lake, through carefully designed leadership games and team-building activities, they develop invaluable life skills and values while bonding with group members.

Values	Skills
Respect Integrity Trust Self-esteem Honesty Responsibility	Effective Communication Positive decision-making Creative Thinking Goal-setting Teamwork

By acquiring and embodying these essential life skills and values, our students are able to distinguish themselves from their peers and succeed at university and beyond. The success of our students has contributed to Columbia's reputation as one of the best private boarding university preparatory schools in Canada.

Exciting Team Building and Leadership Activities

Bark Lake offers a wide variety of activities that incorporate lessons in leadership, teamwork and social skills. Through the “challenge by choice” approach, students are encouraged to set their own level of comfort and participation in all group activities. Therefore students develop their emotional intelligence through increased self-awareness and personal motivation, learning to manage their emotions and show empathy in handling relationships.

Winter	Summer and Fall
Cross-country skiing High Ropes Ice-fishing Igloo building Low Ropes Snowshoeing Winter Survival Skills	Archery Beach Volleyball Canoeing High Ropes Kayaking Low Ropes Swimming

As part of their scheduled extracurricular activities, our junior middle school students visit Bark Lake and participate in their leadership training programs. Our high school/university preparatory students may also sign-up for leadership training trips to Bark Lake which are offered throughout the school year, or students may attend the training as part of the activities as members of the Outdoor Adventure Club.

Comfortable Year-round Facilities in a Natural Environment

Occupying over 700 acres of pristine wilderness and 400 acres of private lake, Bark Lake is nestled in the Haliburton Highlands, 3 hours north of Toronto. It offers comfortable facilities including:

• 4 year-round cabins sleep 124 persons
• 9 seasonal cabins sleep 204 persons
• A well-equipped cafeteria which serves fresh and delicious meals daily
• Indoor and outdoor meeting areas for group training
• Certified ropes course (high and low ropes)

Executive Student Leadership Positions

Columbia International College's Leadership Development Program consists of a progressive series of training workshops. Completion of the series prepares students for executive student leadership positions at CIC and beyond.

• Mentors
• Prefects
• Student Council Executives
• Residence Council Executives
• International Council

Credited Leadership Courses

Columbia International College believes that leadership can be learned. We have developed the following credit courses for our high school/university preparatory students:

• Leadership and Peer Support
• Business Leadership

These courses develop our students' communication, interpersonal, leadership, teamwork and conflict management skills, allowing them to better serve their community and/or manage a business successfully.